“Regime Change is forceful and undemocratic”: BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari calls for unity against anarchists

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari has urged supporters of democratic institutions to oppose groups that promote violence or political disorder, arguing that unrest presented as public dissent can conceal an effort to remove an elected government.

Referring to episodes of turmoil in other countries, Bhandari said such developments should serve as a warning for Indians who defend or romanticise violent demonstrations. He maintained that protests involving coercion and destruction should not be regarded as ordinary expressions of disagreement.

According to Bhandari, attempts to bring about a change of government through force are inherently violent and undemocratic. He called for unity among citizens who believe that political transitions must occur through elections and constitutional processes.

His remarks came amid controversy over the phrase “regime change,” which has surfaced in recent speeches and public discussions involving opposition representatives, lawyers and student activists. The comments were made against the backdrop of demonstrations concerning alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and criticism directed at Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Some student activists have also referred to the youth-led uprising in Bangladesh that resulted in Sheikh Hasina’s removal from office. Those comparisons have intensified the political dispute, with BJP leaders alleging that sections of the opposition are seeking to reproduce a similar movement in India.

Tricolour marches fuel political confrontation

Delhi has recently witnessed several marches in which opposition parties and civil society groups carried the national flag. Protesters have presented the Tricolour as a symbol of constitutional rights and democratic accountability.

BJP leaders, however, have accused participating groups of using the flag to lend legitimacy to disruptive political activity. They contend that the demonstrations are intended to generate instability in the national capital rather than secure reforms through established institutions.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has similarly alleged that Congress and its allies are trying to encourage a Bangladesh-style political upheaval. He claimed that young people were being drawn into confrontational politics and used to advance a broader campaign against the elected government.

The opposition has framed the protests around electoral transparency, while the BJP has characterised them as part of an attempt to foster unrest. The competing narratives have deepened an already sharp debate over the boundary between democratic protest and actions viewed as coercive or destabilising.